Wheel.



J. L. CLARK.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-17.1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JOH "L. CLARK, or PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915..

Application filed October 17, 1914. Serial No. 867,207.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. CLARK, a citizen of the United .States, residing at Phoenix, in the county of Maricopa and State of Arizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wheels, 'of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in wheels of the pneumatic type, wherein provision is made for holding certain movable parts of the wheel under cushion of compressed air to take up the shocks and jars incident to the travel of the wheel.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a wheel including a plurality of cylinders radiating from the hub, in which are disposed pistons to be held at their outer limit of movement by an air cushion, pressure of which resiststhe inner movement of the piston and hence the similar movement of the wheel or tire.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1- is a view in elevation of the improved wheel. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the pistons. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a broken plan view illustratingthe relation between the side plates and the cylinder.

The improved wheel comprises what may be termed a central member 1 including a hub 2 and a series of hollow cylindrical elements 3 radiating from the hub and constituting what may be termed cylinders. The hub 2 is formed with an annular chamber 4c having a supply inlet 5 through which air under pressure may -be introduced. The chamber l communicates with the interior of each cylinder 3 through a port 6.

Each cylinder at some distance from the outer end'is formed with an annular flange 7. Each cylinder is closed by what may be termed a cap section 8 having an annular portion 9 encircling the cylinder and a reduced portion 10 to receive clamps 11 for gripping a tire 12, preferably of the solld or cushion type in place. The caps 8 extend clrcumferentially or laterally in both directions beyond the cylinder, so that tho adjacent caps have their terminal edges in prox- .imity to form practically a continuous tire receiving surface. Secured to and projectlngfrom the cap 8 is a hollow piston 13, the connection with the cap being preferably a threaded one as shown.

The hollow piston is of less length than the cylinder 3 and near its lower end is formed with a circumferential channel 14 to receive contacting 1 rings 15, the channels having communication with the interior of the piston through minute portsl16,'whereby effective pressure is maintained at all times upon packing rings to secure air-tight connection between the piston and cylinder. Side plates 17 are secured to the flange 7, said plates overlying the cylinder walls and extending in spaced parallel relation thereto to receive between said plates and wall the portion 9 of the cap 8. The inner surface of the side plates are formed with guide channels 18 to receive pins 19 projecting from the portions 9 of the cap, whereby movement of the piston is limited in both directions.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the tire is supported upon an independent series'of elements, each including in part a piston working in the cylinder against a body of compressed air. The pressure will of course depend upon the pressure of the air and as this may be regulated to any desired extent, it is obvious that the resiliency of the wheel may be adjusted as desired.

What is claimed is A pneumatic wheel comprising a head section including a series of independent radially disposed cylinders, the hub being formed to provide a pressure chamber, and

witha port leading from each cylinder to said chamber, a serles of independent p1stons arranged in the cylinders, said pistons having extended head portions to together form a wheel rim, means to secure tire to the said rim, side plates removably secured to thecylinde'rs and forming spaced slideways between said plates and cylinder walls, an

annular flange projecting from eah piston In testimony whereof I afiix my signature and seated in the slideways, a pin extending in presence of tWo Witnesses.

from the flangegland guide channels formed. JOHN L. CLARK. in the side platesto receive the pins, said Witnesses: 7 5.]chann'e1s guiding andiimiting the -move-- ALFRED M. DAVEY,

- ment of the piston in both directions. CHARLES F. FLETCHER. 7

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents,

' v Washington, 1). c." 

